Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health, Disability and Ageing Measures No. 4) Regulations 2025

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Finance

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment

(Health, Disability and Ageing Measures No. 4) Regulations 2025

The Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 (the FFSP Act) confers on the Commonwealth, in certain circumstances, powers to make arrangements under which money can be spent; or to make grants of financial assistance; and to form, or otherwise be involved in, companies. The arrangements, grants, programs and companies (or classes of arrangements or grants in relation to which the powers are conferred) are specified in the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 (the Principal Regulations). The powers in the FFSP Act to make, vary or administer arrangements or grants may be exercised on behalf of the Commonwealth by Ministers and the accountable authorities of non‑corporate Commonwealth entities, as defined under section 12 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

The Principal Regulations are exempt from sunsetting under section 12 of the Legislation (Exemptions and Other Matters) Regulation 2015 (item 28A). If the Principal Regulations were subject to the sunsetting regime under the Legislation Act 2003, this would generate uncertainty about the continuing operation of existing contracts and funding agreements between the Commonwealth and third parties (particularly those extending beyond 10 years), as well as the Commonwealth’s legislative authority to continue making, varying or administering arrangements, grants and programs.

Additionally, the Principal Regulations authorise a number of activities that form part of intergovernmental schemes. It would not be appropriate for the Commonwealth to unilaterally sunset an instrument that provides authority for Commonwealth funding for activities that are underpinned by an intergovernmental arrangement. To ensure that the Principal Regulations continue to reflect government priorities and remain up to date, the Principal Regulations are subject to periodic review to identify and repeal items that are redundant or no longer required.

Section 32B of the FFSP Act authorises the Commonwealth to make, vary and administer arrangements and grants specified in the Principal Regulations. Section 32B also authorises the Commonwealth to make, vary and administer arrangements for the purposes of programs specified in the Principal Regulations. Section 32D of the FFSP Act confers powers of delegation on Ministers and the accountable authorities of non-corporate Commonwealth entities, including subsection 32B(1) of the FFSP Act. Schedule 1AA and Schedule 1AB to the Principal Regulations specify the arrangements, grants and programs.

Section 65 of the FFSP Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters required or permitted by the FFSP Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the FFSP Act.

The Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health, Disability and Ageing Measures No. 4) Regulations 2025 (the Regulations) amend Schedule 1AB to the Principal Regulations to establish legislative authority for government spending on activities to be administered by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Funding will be provided for the following initiatives:

a grant to M Riewoldt Holdings Limited to improve outcomes and support for patients with Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes ($3.0 million over three years from 2025-26);
a grant to CareFlight Limited to purchase and modify an aircraft to deliver emergency aeromedical retrievals in the Northern Territory ($10.1 million in 2025-26);
a grant to FightMND Ltd to scale up its operations, increase public awareness about motor neurone disease and fund critical research initiatives ($4.5 million over three years from 2025-26);
the Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Program to fund research activities that support reducing the incidence and prevalence rates of blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections ($4.8 million per year over four years from 2025-26);
the First Nations Maternal and Child Health Program to support the development and implementation of a new First Nations-led model of care ($103.1 million over four years from 2025-26);
the Growing the Psychiatry Workforce—Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry Scholarships to support scholarships for medical professionals to undertake postgraduate training in clinical psychiatry ($2.1 million over four years from 2025-26);
the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Program to fund the establishment and operation of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to improve access to care for urgent but not
life-threatening conditions and improve health care outcomes in the community
($373.8 million over three years from 2025-26);
the Palliative Care Capability in Aged Care program ($24.9 million in 2025-26);
the Peer Workforce Training Placements program to provide benefits to students by funding peer worker training placements for individuals with personal experience of mental health challenges ($2.8 million over four years from 2025-26); and
the Psychiatry Workforce Program to fund training posts in psychiatry and associated supervisory support ($30.1 million over four years from 2025-26).

Details of the Regulations are set out at Attachment A. A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment B.

The Regulations are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.

The Regulations commence on the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Consultation

In accordance with section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003, consultation has taken place with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Attachment A

Details of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment

(Health, Disability and Ageing Measures No. 4) Regulations 2025

Section 1 – Name

This section provides that the title of the Regulations is the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health, Disability and Ageing Measures No. 4) Regulations 2025.

Section 2 – Commencement

This section provides that the Regulations commence on the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Section 3 – Authority

This section provides that the Regulations are made under the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997.

Section 4 – Schedules

This section provides that the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 (the Principal Regulations) are amended as set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.

Schedule 1 – Amendments

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997

The items in Schedule 1 amend Schedule 1AB to the Principal Regulations to establish legislative authority for government spending on activities to be administered by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the department).

The terms ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’ and ‘First Nations’ are used interchangeably throughout this attachment, and no distinction is intended.

Item 1 – In the appropriate position in Part 3 of Schedule 1AB (table)

This item adds three new table items to Part 3 of Schedule 1AB.

Table item 107 – Grant to M Riewoldt Holdings Limited

New table item 107 establishes legislative authority for the Government to provide a grant to M Riewoldt Holdings Limited (Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision) to improve outcomes and support for patients with Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (BMFS) through research, support for critical research infrastructure, enhanced support services and education (the grant).

The grant will implement the 2025 Federal election commitments for primary care in line with Labor’s costed plan to Build Australia’s Future. 

BMFS are a group of rare chronic medical conditions in which the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There is limited prevalence data available for BMFS in Australia, largely due to the rarity of these conditions and the historical absence of a coordinated national data collection.

Many chronic diseases, such as BMFS, have high mortality rates and contribute to significant burden to patients and carers, as well as the Australian health care system. According to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, every three days an Australian is diagnosed with BMFS, most of whom are children and young adults, and half do not survive. Thousands more are living with complex medical issues and ongoing risks to their health, including a significantly higher risk of developing cancer. Patients diagnosed with BMFS and their families, currently have very limited resources and support options available.

Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, established in 2015, is named after Maddie Riewoldt, a
26-year-old woman who died of complications of a BMFS called aplastic anaemia. The organisation was founded by Maddie’s family and aims to support vital research that accelerates prevention, diagnosis and treatments of BMFS, while providing support, guidance and resources to patients and their families. The purpose of the grant is to support the advancement of relevant healthcare priorities whilst improving outcomes for BMFS patients and their families through addressing the significant health care needs of underdiagnosed and sub-optimally managed BMFS patients.

Grant funding of $3.0 million over three years from 2025-26 to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision aims to:

support its Centre of Research Excellence in Bone Marrow Biology which focuses on driving research to improve patient outcomes through clinical care, novel therapies, and clinical trials, and will deliver innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of BMFS;
expand its reach, support and engagement with more patients, their families and carers, through their telesupport service and peer support program to increase understand of BMFS presentation and management;
implement a professional development program for healthcare providers, including utilising presentations, educational videos and brochures, to raise awareness of the presenting symptoms of BMFS to achieve earlier and accurate diagnosis and provide optimal treatment and management options for patients and their families; and
support the long-term future of the Aplastic Anaemia and other Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes Registry and the Australian Marrow Failure Biobank, to grow and accelerate scientific research.

The intended outcome of the grant is to strengthen the capacity within the health sector for BMFS diagnosing, treatment and management needs. This includes coordinating the continued growth of BMFS research, support emerging and early career researchers via fellowships, ensure the continuation and expansion of critical BMFS research infrastructure and facilitate the rapid application of research findings to an even wider group of patients and families. Central to this is raising the level of BMFS knowledge in the clinical community.

The grant will directly support the goals and priority areas of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions (www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-strategic-framework-for-chronic-conditions), the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021‑2030 (www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-preventive-health-strategy-2021-2030) and the National Strategic Action Plan for Rare Diseases (www.health.gov.au/
resources/publications/national-strategic-action-plan-for-rare-diseases).

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $3.0 million over three years from 2025-26 for the grant will be included in the 2025-26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2025-26 for the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio.

Funding for the item will come from Program 1.5: Preventive Health and Chronic Disease Support, which is part of Outcome 1.

Funding will be provided through a closed, non-competitive grant process to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision. The purpose of the funding is to ensure the continuity of the BMFS research and support services provided by Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision.

Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision is eligible for this grant opportunity as it has been assessed by the department to have:

capability and capacity to provide and operate the services to ensure continuity of care;
existing infrastructure and relationships to support delivery of the activities; and
knowledge of and capability to deliver the objectives and outcomes.

With the current operation of the services fully vested with Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, it would not be efficient or effective for other organisations to undertake the service. The organisation possesses both the capacity and capability to move quickly to implement the services, ensuing uninterrupted support for BMFS patients.

The grant will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth resource management framework, including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014
(PGPA Rule) and the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 (CGRPs). Consistent with the CGRPs, the department has developed grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

The grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grant is available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of the Department of Social Services (DSS). A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 (FFSP Act) will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to the eligible organisation. The delegate will be at the Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 1 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

Funding decisions made in connection with the grant are not considered suitable for independent merits review, as they are decisions relating to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefit of the grant is not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The grant, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. The Administrative Review Council (ARC) has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (see paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the guide, What decisions should be subject to merit review? (ARC guide)).

The review and audit process undertaken by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) provides a mechanism to review Australian Government spending decisions and report any concerns to the Parliament. These requirements and mechanisms help to ensure the proper use of Commonwealth resources and appropriate transparency around decisions relating to making, varying or administering arrangements to spend relevant money.

In any case, the right to review under section 75(v) of the Constitution and review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 may be available. Persons affected by spending decisions would also have recourse to the Commonwealth Ombudsman where appropriate.

The department has consulted with Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision since mid-2025 to inform the design and development of the grant opportunity guidelines. Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision has also consulted and engaged with the broader BMFS research community including direct consumer engagement, nursing and allied health, scientists, haematologists, clinicians and clinician-researchers. Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision also provides consumer advocacy and undertakes regular consultation with consumers and their families including the provision of ongoing opportunities for BMFS patients to be involved in research as representatives, ensuring patient and family feedback and needs are incorporated in research and service design and methodology.

Consultation with Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision and the broader BMFS research community will continue throughout the life of the grant agreement. 

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the purpose of the item references the external affairs power (section 51(xxix)) of the Constitution.

External affairs power

Section 51(xxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘external affairs’.

The treaty implementation aspect of the external affairs power supports legislation implementing Australia’s international obligations under treaties to which it is a party.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

Australia is a party to the ICESCR [1976] ATS 5. Article 2 provides the general obligation of States Parties to undertake steps, including the adoption of legislative measures, to achieve the full realisation of the rights recognised in the Covenant. Article 12(1) recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’. Article 12(2) further provides a non-exhaustive list of ‘steps’ to be taken by the Parties to achieve the full realisation of the right to health. Article 12(2)(c) refers to steps necessary for ‘the prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases’. Article 12(2)(d) outlines steps necessary for ‘the creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness’.

Grant funding to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision includes supporting the undertaking of research relating to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of BMFS, which is a chronic condition. Support and educational services, activities to increase access to the Aplastic Anaemia and other Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes Registry, and delivery of the Australian Marrow Failure Biobank, will contribute to medical services for treating and controlling BMFS.

Table item 108 – Grant to CareFlight Limited

New table item 108 establishes legislative authority for the Government to provide a grant to CareFlight Limited (CareFlight) to purchase and modify an aircraft to deliver emergency aeromedical retrievals in the Northern Territory (NT) (the grant).

The grant will implement the 2025 Federal election commitments for primary care in line with Labor’s costed plan to Build Australia’s Future. 

CareFlight, established in 1986, is a not-for-profit organisation delivering aeromedical care to remote patients who are critically ill or injured and require urgent medical attention. CareFlight’s mission is to save lives, speed recovery and serve the community.

CareFlight’s fully integrated aeromedical crews which includes a specialist doctor, nurse or paramedic, and pilot and aircrew officer, work together as a team to access the incident sites and provide essential aeromedical care. The northernmost section of the NT, known as the Top End, is very challenging to access by road, with difficult terrain or limited access. CareFlight works closely, and in collaboration, with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to deliver culturally appropriate and clinically safe care.

Grant funding of $10.1 million in 2025-26 will support CareFlight to purchase a second-hand fixed-wing aircraft for aeromedical emergency retrievals in the Top End region of the NT. The NT Government is responsible for medical retrievals from the south of Tennant Creek northwards. CareFlight is contracted by the NT Government to deliver these services in the Top End, including Darwin, West Daly, West Arnhem and the Tiwi Islands. The grant will include a requirement for CareFlight to report on a ten-year Designated Use period for the aircraft, to ensure that the aircraft is used for its intended purpose.

The intended outcomes of the grant funding are to: 

enhance aeromedical emergency capabilities delivering more critical care services to communities in the Top End of the NT;
improve access, reliability and timeliness to emergency medical care in some of the most remote parts of Australia; and
ensure improved health outcomes for First Nations communities, which represent over 90 per cent of CareFlight’s patients in the region.

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $10.1 million in 2025-26 for the grant will be included in the 2025-26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2025-26 for the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio. Funding for the item will come from Program 1.4: Health Workforce, which is part of Outcome 1.

Funding will be provided through an invitation only, closed, non-competitive grant process to CareFlight. The purpose of the funding to CareFlight is to ensure increased access, reliability and timeliness of lifesaving aeromedical services in the Top End of the NT and to ensure continuity of care. CareFlight is eligible for the grant opportunity as it has been assessed by the department to have:

capability to deliver the specified grant activities - CareFlight has the ability to rescue vulnerable and injured persons from remote locations within the NT as well as the ability to provide medical and emergency assistance to communities and individuals when required;
existing infrastructure and relationships to support the activities - CareFlight provides culturally appropriate and clinically safe care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the NT;
knowledge of and capability to deliver the objectives and outcomes - CareFlight provides care to remote patients, with fully integrated aeromedical crews working together as a team and able to access the incident sites; and
a proven track record of service delivery - evidenced by CareFlight’s provision of aeromedical support services to Australian communities since 1986.

With the current operation of the services fully vested with CareFlight, it would not be efficient or effective for other organisations to undertake the service. CareFlight has the capacity and capability to quickly implement the extended service, ensuring continued staff employment and uninterrupted support for individuals in the Top End region of the NT who are seriously ill or injured and need urgent medical attention.

The grant to CareFlight will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth Resource Management Framework, including the PGPA Act, the PGPA Rule and the CGRPs. Consistent with the CGRPs, the department has developed grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grant is available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS. A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to the eligible organisation. The delegate will be at SES Band 1 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

The provision of funds to CareFlight is not considered suitable for independent merits review because the funding will be delivered through a non-competitive grant to an organisation that the department has assessed as suitable.

Funding decisions made in connection with the grant are not considered suitable for independent merits review, as they are decisions relating to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefits of the grant are not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The grant, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (See paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

The ARC does consider that administrative accountability in relation to such allocative decisions should be given greater emphasis, including ensuring that:

the processes of allocating funds are fair;
the criteria for funding are made clear; and
decisions are made objectively.

The review and audit process undertaken by the ANAO also provides a mechanism to review Australian Government spending decisions and report any concerns to the Parliament. These requirements and mechanisms help to ensure the proper use of Commonwealth resources and appropriate transparency around decisions relating to making, varying or administering arrangements to spend relevant money.

The department has consulted with CareFlight and the NT Government since May 2025 to inform the design and development of the grant opportunity guidelines. The NT Government has provided positive feedback that additional services in the Top End would be valued by local communities and would significantly address current unmet need. Consultation with CareFlight and the NT Government will continue throughout the life of the grant agreement. 

Broader public consultation on the grant opportunity was not considered necessary as the Government’s Federal election commitment was targeted at CareFlight and the identified urgent need to support medical evacuations and transportation in the Top End region of the NT.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the purpose of the item references the territories power (section 122) of the Constitution.

Territories power

Section 122 of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to ‘make laws for the government of any territory’.

The purpose of the grant to CareFlight is for the purchase of a second-hand fixed-wing aircraft, to be based in Darwin, NT, which will be operated by CareFlight and will be used to deliver emergency aeromedical retrieval services in the Top End region of the NT.

Table item 109 – Grant to FightMND Ltd

New table item 109 establishes legislative authority for the Government to provide a grant to FightMND Ltd (FightMND) to scale up its operations, increase public awareness about motor neurone disease (MND) and support critical research initiatives (the grant).

The grant will implement the 2025 Federal election commitments for primary care in line with Labor’s costed plan to Build Australia’s Future. 

FightMND is a non-profit organisation, established in 2014 by Neale Daniher AO,
Pat Cunningham, and the late Dr Ian Davis OAM, to raise awareness and fund vital research to improve the quality of life and find treatments and a cure for those living with MND.

MND is a progressive and fatal neurological disease. According to a 2025 report commissioned by MND Australia, it is estimated there are 2,752 Australians living with MND which is equivalent to approximately 1 in every 10,030 people.

Grant funding of $4.5 million over three years from 2025-26 will be provided to FightMND to support and facilitate the following activities:

scientific research and development projects, including holding conferences and opportunities for information sharing, for the diagnosis and treatment of MND;
provide administrative and logistical support for the Global MND Research Roundtable;
upgrade FightMND’s customer relationship management capacity; and
the development and distribution of content to raise awareness about MND using digital platforms (such as websites and social media) and media outlets (such as radio and television).

The intended outcome of the grant is to improve health outcomes for people living with MND, as well as their families and carers.

The grant will align with broader health system and Medicare reforms, including the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions, National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-30, and Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan 2022-32 (www.health.gov.au/resources/
publications/australias-primary-health-care-10-year-plan-2022-2032). 

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $4.5 million over three years from 2025-26 for the grant will be included in the 2025-26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2025-26 for the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio.

Funding for the item will come from Program 1.5: Preventive Health and Chronic Disease Support, which is part of Outcome 1.

Funding will be provided through a closed, non-competitive grant process to FightMND.

FightMND is eligible for this grant opportunity as it has been assessed by the department to have:

capability and capacity to deliver the grant activities;
existing infrastructure and relationships to support the activities; and
knowledge of and capability to deliver the grant objectives and outcomes.

The decision to fund FightMND will ensure the continuity of MND research and awareness raising activities provided by FightMND.

The grant will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth Resource Management Framework, including the PGPA Act, the PGPA Rule and the CGRPs.

Consistent with the CGRPs, the department has developed grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grant is available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS. A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to eligible organisations. The delegate will be at SES Band 1 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

The provision of funds to FightMND is not considered suitable for independent merits review because the funding will be delivered through a non-competitive grant to an organisation that the department has assessed as suitable.

Funding decisions made in connection with the grant are not considered suitable for independent merits review, as they are decisions relating to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefits of the grant are not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The grant, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (See paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

The review and audit process undertaken by the ANAO provides a mechanism to review Australian Government spending decisions and report any concerns to the Parliament. These requirements and mechanisms help to ensure the proper use of Commonwealth resources and appropriate transparency around decisions relating to making, varying or administering arrangements to spend relevant money.

The department has consulted with FightMND since mid-2025 to inform the design and development of the grant opportunity guidelines. FightMND has also consulted and engaged with the broader MND research sector to strategically accelerate research progress, address inefficiencies within the MND clinical trial ecosystem and improve access to clinical trials for Australians living with MND.

Consultation with FightMND and the broader Australian MND research sector will continue to ensure that investments recognise areas of need, shape the MND research ecosystem, and are aimed at accelerating progress and a path towards a cure for MND.

Consultation with FightMND will continue throughout the life of the grant agreement. 

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the purpose of the item references the following powers of the Constitution:

the communications power (section 51(v)); and
the external affairs power (section 51(xxix)).

Communications power

Section 51(v) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘postal, telegraphic, telephonic and other like services’.

The grant to FightMND will support awareness raising activities for MND including creating content using digital platforms and media outlets, to improve public understanding of MND.

External affairs power

Section 51(xxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘external affairs’.

The treaty implementation aspect of the external affairs power supports legislation implementing Australia’s international obligations under treaties to which it is a party.

ICESCR

Grant funding to FightMND will support vital research arrangements necessary to find a treatment or cure for MND, including administrative and logistical support, and conferences and forums to facilitate research collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Upgrading FightMND’s customer service capacity will also support the creation of conditions in which people suffering from MND can receive appropriate medical services and attention.

Item 2 – In the appropriate position in Part 4 of Schedule 1AB (table)

This item adds seven new table items to Part 4 of Schedule 1AB.

Table item 764 – Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Program

New table item 764 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the
Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Program (the program)

to fund research activities that support reducing the incidence and prevalence rates of
blood-borne viruses (BBV) and sexually transmissible infections (STI).

The First National Bloodborne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Strategy 2021-2025 (National BBV and STI Research Strategy) (www.health.gov.au/
resources/publications/the-first-national-bloodborne-viruses-and-sexually-transmissible-infections-research-strategy-2021-2025), was endorsed by the then Minister for Health in June 2021. The program was established in 2021 to support translational and implementation research aligned to the National BBV and STI Research Strategy and has since funded 10 projects through competitive grant processes. Since its inception, the program has successfully supported the development of evidence-based policy to address prevention, management and reduction of BBV and STI transmission within the Australian community.

The objective of the program is to fund high-quality, collaborative, and translational research that aligns to the six National Strategies for BBV and STI (the National Strategies), available at: www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/national-strategies-for-bloodborne-viruses-and-sexually-transmissible-infections. The program aims to:

generate evidence to inform BBV and STI prevention, testing, treatment and care;
address priority populations disproportionately affected by BBV and STI including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, people who inject drugs and/or living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C, sex workers, gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, trans and gender diverse populations, people in custodial settings or history of incarceration and other Australians living in rural and remote communities; and
strengthen Australia’s capacity to reduce transmission, improve health outcomes, and meet the elimination goals for BBV and STI including HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Funding of $4.8 million per year over four years from 2025-26 for the program will support:

research programs that directly address priority areas of action within the National Strategies;
studies that focus on BBV and STI prevention, testing and treatment uptake, including address gaps identified in the care cascades (e.g. diagnosis, treatment, prevention);
interventions that reduce stigma and discrimination and improve health outcomes;
implementation and evaluation research to inform health policy and practice; and
capacity building initiatives that strengthen partnerships with affected communities.

The intended outcome of the program is to support activities to prevent BBV and STI and improve overall health outcomes for all Australians by continuing to build on the evidence base and inform public health responses. The program will also align with the second National BBV and STI Research Strategy (2026-2030) expected to be published in 2026.

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $4.8 million per year over four years from 2025-26 for this item will come from Program 1.1: Health Research, Coordination and Access, which is part of Outcome 1. Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2025-26, Budget Related Paper No. 1.9, Health and Aged Care Portfolio at page 50.

Funding will be provided through an open and competitive grant process and will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth Resource Management Framework, including the PGPA Act, PGPA Rule and the CGRPs. Consistent with the CGRPs, the department has developed grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.  

Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grants will be made available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS. A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to eligible organisations. The delegate will be at SES Band 1 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

Funding decisions made in connection with the grant are not considered suitable for independent merits review In addition, the benefits of the grant are not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The grant, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual.

Grant allocation decisions made in connection with the program are not considered suitable for independent merits review, as they are decisions relating to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefits of the program are not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The program, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. Any funding that has already been allocated would be affected if the original decision was overturned. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (see paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

As part of the development process for the second National BBV and STI Research Strategy (2026-2030), which aligns with research activities that will be funded under the program, the department engaged with the following stakeholders throughout August and September 2025:

Australian universities;
research organisations;
peak bodies;
Commonwealth and state and territory Governments; and
expert working committees, including members of the Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Standing Committee (a sub-committee of the Australian Health Protection Committee).

The department also undertook broader consultation in August and September 2025 with community organisations, research organisations, and peak bodies.

Feedback from these consultations was supportive and will be incorporated into the design and implementation of the grant opportunity guidelines. The department will continue to engage closely with the BBV and STI research sector, on the implementation and monitoring of the program and consultation with grant recipients will continue throughout the life of the grant agreements.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the following powers of the Constitution:

the external affairs power (section 51(xxix));
the social welfare power (section 51(xxiiiA));
the race power (section 51(xxvi)); and
the executive power and express incidental power (sections 61 and 51(xxxix)).

External affairs power

Section 51(xxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘external affairs’. The treaty implementation aspect of the external affairs power supports legislation implementing Australia’s international obligations under treaties to which it is a party.

ICESCR

The program will support activities to prevent BBV and STI and improve overall health outcomes for all Australians by continuing to build on the evidence base and inform public health responses.

Social welfare power

The social welfare power in section 51(xxiiiA) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to the provision of certain social welfare benefits, including medical services (but not as to authorise any form of civil conscription).

The program will support evidence-based policy for managing and preventing BBV and STI in the community, by examining social, behavioural, epidemiological and clinical outcomes, which will in turn support the delivery of more effective Commonwealth-funded medical services.

Race power

Section 51(xxvi) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws’.

The program will support research that specifically benefits Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a priority group that is disproportionately affected by BBV and STI.

Executive power and express incidental power

The express incidental power in section 51(xxxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to matters incidental to the execution of any power vested in the Parliament, the executive or the courts by the Constitution. The executive power in section 61 of the Constitution supports activities that form part of the ordinary and
well-recognised functions of government

The program will support activities to inform the development of future public health policies and programs to prevent BBV and STI, which benefits all Australians.

Table item 765 – First Nations Maternal and Child Health Program

New table item 765 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the First Nations Maternal and Child Health Program (the program) to support the development and implementation of a new First Nations-led model of care.

The program aims to align maternal health service delivery with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) (www.closingthegap.gov.au/national-agreement) and ensure the continued delivery of culturally safe, maternal and perinatal care for women who are pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child and support infant health care that can extend to children aged two years old.

Since 2009, the Australian Family Partnership Program (AFPP) has supported women pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child until the child is two years old. The AFPP existing sites currently operate across 14 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) and one state government service (NT Health – Top End Health Service), under an international licence held by the department with the University of Colorado Denver, Colorado, United States of America.

The health services to be funded under the program include:

Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service - Kempsey and surrounds, New South Wales (NSW);
Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service - Blacktown, Western Sydney, NSW;
Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service – Dubbo, NSW;
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services Ltd - Canberra and surrounds, Australian Capital Territory (ACT);
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation - Alice Springs, NT;
Danila Dilba Biluru Butji Binnilutlum Health Service Aboriginal Corporation - Palmerston and Darwin, NT;
NT of Australia (NT Health – Top End Health Service) - Hub and spoke model operating out of Darwin servicing Wadeye, Maningrida, Gunbalanya and Wurrumiyanga, NT;
Wurli-Wurlinjang Aboriginal Corporation - Katherine, NT;
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Ltd (North) - Brisbane North, Queensland;
Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Ltd (South) - Brisbane South, Queensland;
Wuchopperen Health Service Limited - Cairns, Queensland;
Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Incorporated - Adelaide, South Australia (SA);
Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative Limited - Campaspe, Shepparton and Moira, Victoria;
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service - Broome, Derby and Kununurra, Western Australia (WA); and
Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance - East and West Pilbara region, WA.

Birthing on Country (BoC) is a term adopted by some First Nations communities to describe First Nations-led continuity of maternal health care services, delivered in a hospital or registered birth centre setting. BoC is the primary mechanism for the National Agreement, Outcome 2 – ‘Babies are born healthy and strong’, and its associated Target 2 – ‘By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies with a healthy birthweight to 91 per cent’.

BoC has been shown to result in better health outcomes for First Nations mothers and babies, including a 50 per cent reduction in preterm birth rates where trialled (Kildea et al (2021), ‘Effect of a Birthing on Country service redesign on maternal and neonatal health outcomes for First Nations Australians: a prospective, non-randomised, interventional trial’, The Lancet Global Health).

Similar to BoC, the program will enable self-determination and will be designed, delivered and evaluated in partnership with First Nations communities, incorporating the following key principles:

community-based governance, led by the ACCHS sector;
integration of traditional practices, such as access to community, language, culture, and ceremonies;
connection to land and Country, recognising both physical and spiritual ties for birthing women;
a holistic and culturally relevant definition of health;
recognition and valuing of First Nations ways of knowing and learning; and
culturally competent service delivery, supported by appropriate risk assessment.

BoC service models encompass both clinical and non-clinical approaches and the program will reflect this dual approach through service models such as:

First Nations midwifery group practices;
birthing in a tertiary hospital with a known First Nations midwife;
birthing in a First Nations specific birth centre with a known midwife; and
support from First Nations childbirth companions or doulas (non-clinical services).

The intended outcomes of the program are to improve rates of healthy birthweight among Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander infants, maintain continuity of maternal and perinatal care for women who are pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child and health care services for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander infants that can extend to children aged two years old.

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $103.1 million over four years from 2025-26 for the item will come from Program 1.3: First Nations Health, which is part of Outcome 1. Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2025-26, Budget Related Paper No. 1.9, Health and Aged Care Portfolio at page 50. 

Funding will be provided through a closed, non-competitive grant process. The purpose of the funding is to ensure the continued delivery of maternal and infant health care services for First Nations women and their infants across the 15 existing sites.

The 15 sites are eligible for grant funding as they have been assessed by the department as suitable to have:

the capability to deliver the specified project activities;
knowledge of and capability to deliver the objectives and outcomes – ACCCHs are primary health care organisations with experience in providing maternal and infant services for women pregnant with a First Nations child; and
existing infrastructure and relationships to support the specified activities.

With the current operation of the services fully embedded within the 15 sites, it would not be efficient or effective to engage other organisations to undertake the services. The 15 sites have a proven track record of service delivery, the capacity to deliver and manage the services, and the necessary infrastructure and established relationships to support effective implementation. The sites possess both the capability and readiness to rapidly implement the program, ensuring continuity of care, retention of staff, and uninterrupted support for individuals accessing maternal and infant healthcare.

The grants will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth resource management framework, including the PGPA Act, PGPA Rule and the CGRPs. Consistent with the CGRPs, the department has developed grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grant will be made available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS. A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to eligible organisations. The delegate will be at SES Band 1 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

In any case, the right to review under subsection 75(v) of the Constitution and review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 may be available. Persons affected by spending decisions would also have recourse to the Commonwealth Ombudsman where appropriate.

The department has undertaken consultation on the program since August 2025 to support the transition of the program. This has included meetings with the CEOs of the 15 sites currently delivering the services which were very supportive of the decision to transition away from the confines of the international licence and into their own self determined program, in alignment with community needs.

Further meetings with the 15 sites were held by the department between September and October 2025 to support the transition, and a further workshop on performance indicators and data arrangements will occur in late 2025. The department will also continue to consult with the following organisations on the transition:

the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations;
the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives; and
the Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights (embedded in Charles Darwin University) as the contracted National Leadership Team under the AFPP licenced model.

Ongoing consultation within the sector is a key part of the program monitoring and governance mechanisms. The program will continue to be co-designed with ACCHS in accordance with the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement and feedback from consultations will be incorporated into the design and implementation of the grant opportunity guidelines.

Consultation with the sites will continue throughout the life of the grant agreements.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the race power (section 51(xxvi)) of the Constitution.

Race power

Section 51(xxvi) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws’.

The program is directed at improving maternal and child health outcomes for First Nations infants and their mothers.

Table item 766 – Growing the Psychiatry Workforce—Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry Scholarships

New table item 766 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Growing the Psychiatry Workforce—Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry (CPTP) Scholarships (CPTP scholarships) to support scholarships for medical professionals to undertake postgraduate training in clinical psychiatry.

The CPTP scholarships will implement the 2025 Federal election commitments for primary care in line with Labor’s costed plan to Build Australia’s Future. 

The CPTP scholarships are intended to address the ongoing unmet demand for psychiatry services nationally and broaden the skillset of medical professionals to confidently deliver higher levels of care in a range of health care settings and in areas of psychiatry undersupply.

The Psychiatry Supply and Demand Study (the Study), a health workforce model that projects the supply and demand of Australia's psychiatrists over a 25-year period from 2024 to 2048 (https://hwd.health.gov.au/supply-and-demand/psychiatry-supply-demand-study.html) provides the department with key insights to support planning and analysis of the psychiatry workforce. As part of the Study, psychiatry supply and demand modelling undertaken by the department in June 2025 includes baseline projections that estimate a shortfall of 103.7 full-time equivalent (FTE) (2.7 per cent) psychiatrists in 2024, increasing to 385.4 FTE (7.4 per cent) by 2033. These projections assume current service levels and population growth, without accounting for unmet demand. When unmet demand is considered, reflecting individuals who require psychiatric care but not currently accessing services, the estimated shortfall increases significantly to 762.7 FTE (19.6 per cent) in 2024, increasing to 1,278.2 FTE (24.7 per cent) in 2033.

The CPTP scholarships recognise that Australia’s general practitioner (GP) workforce already plays a critical role in meeting demand for mental health care. According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) ‘General Practice Health of the Nation 2025 survey’ (an annual report that tracks the state of general practice in Australia),
71 per cent of practising GPs nominated mental health as the top reason for patient presentations, a 10 per cent increase since 2017. In 2023-24, about 2.7 million Australians (10 per cent of the population) received Medicare mental health services (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), 2025), ‘Medicare mental health services’).

In addition to the significant demand on GPs for mental health care support, this ongoing demand is being felt more broadly across the medical healthcare system, notably within emergency departments (ED) nationally. In 2023-24, EDs recorded 310,200 presentations where the principal diagnosis was mental health-related, accounting for 3.4 per cent of all ED presentations (AIHW, 2025), ‘Mental health services provided in emergency departments’. Upskilling these health care professionals will enable them to manage mental health issues at first point of contact, reducing the need for specialist referrals, shortening wait times, improving service access, and easing the burden on the specialist psychiatry workforce. Enhancing mental health training for emergency medicine clinicians will ensure more timely and effective care for individuals in crisis.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) developed the CPTP and are the responsible entity for all applications, eligibility checks, and assessments, including the final assessment to determine successful completion of the CPTP. The RANZCP will be responsible for administering the CPTP scholarships to the following eligible applicants:

GPs;
rural generalists;
emergency medicine physicians; and
other medical practitioners who assess and support the mental health of their patients.

Funding of $2.1 million over four years from 2025-26 will support the RANZCP to administer the CPTP scholarships for the purposes of:

attracting, upskilling, distributing and retaining medical professionals who can address mental health workforce shortages and maldistribution; 
improving access to high quality mental health care for all Australians with a focus on those living in rural and remote areas; and
increasing access to mental health care, especially in rural and remote locations across Australia, by increasing the number of primary care providers and emergency clinicians to manage mental health issues at the first point of contact.

The CPTP scholarships aligns with the Government’s strategic priorities and commitments under the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/publications/fifth-national-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-plan-2017) and the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (www.federalfinancialrelations.gov.au/agreements/mental-health-suicide-prevention-agreement).

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $2.1 million over four years from 2025-26 will be included in the 2025-26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements
2025-26 for the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio. Funding for the item will come from Program 1.4: Health Workforce, which is part of Outcome 1.

Funding will be provided through a closed, non-competitive grant process to the RANZCP to establish, administer and facilitate the CPTP scholarships. The RANZCP is eligible for the grant opportunity as it has been assessed by the department as the best suited organisation to have: 

the capability to deliver the specified project activities – it is the only organisation currently accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to provide training for medical professionals wishing to obtain psychiatry specialty registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law;
knowledge of and capability to deliver the objectives and outcomes – it is the only organisation accredited to assess knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes and award psychiatry fellowship qualifications; and
existing infrastructure and relationships to undertake the grant activities – it is currently delivering psychiatry training to registrars and international medical graduates, has developed the CPTP, and is the responsible entity for all applications, eligibility checks, and assessments, including the final assessment to determine successful completion of the program.

The grant will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth Resource Management Framework, including the PGPA Act, the PGPA Rule and the CGRPs. Consistent with the CGRPs, the department will develop grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grant will be made available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS. A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to the eligible organisation. The delegate will be at SES Band 1 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

Grant allocation decisions made in connection with the CPTP scholarships are not considered suitable for independent merits review because the funding will be delivered through a closed, non-competitive grant to an organisation that the department has assessed as suitable.

Funding decisions relate to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefits of the CPTP scholarships are not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather apply generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The CPTP scholarships, by their nature, are unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. Any funding that has already been allocated would be affected if the original decision was overturned. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (see paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

The department has a strong stakeholder relationship with the RANZCP due to its long-term role in delivering other key health workforce programs. The department engages in
bi-monthly meetings with the RANZCP to discuss issues such as training bottlenecks, varying employment and pay conditions across jurisdictions and resulting impacts, new training pathways being adopted by the RANZCP, and broader psychiatry workforce issues, and last met with the RANZCP in October 2025.

Consultation on the development of the curriculum to establish the CPTP and the CPTP scholarships occurred from 2022 to 2024 through two specially formed groups which included representatives from the department, the RANZCP, the RACGP, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM), and the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

The department also regularly consults with broader health workforce stakeholders including the Health Workforce Taskforce (includes representatives from the Australian Government and all state and territory jurisdictions), and the Medical Workforce Advisory Collaboration (includes representatives from the Australian Government, state and territory jurisdictions, peak bodies, and specialist medical colleges) to ensure medical specialties and expertise continue to align with medical workforce priorities.

Ongoing consultation within the sector is a key part of the program monitoring and governance mechanisms. Consultation with the RANZCP and other psychiatry workforce key stakeholders will continue throughout the life of the grant agreement.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the social welfare power (section 51(xxiiiA) of the Constitution.

Social welfare power

The social welfare power in section 51(xxiiiA) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to the provision of certain social welfare benefits, including in relation to benefits to students (but not as to authorise any form of civil conscription).

The CPTP scholarships will provide a social welfare benefit by enabling medical professionals to undertake postgraduate training in clinical psychiatry and will broaden the skillset of medical professionals to deliver a high level of care to patients experiencing mental health challenges.

Table item 767 – Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Program

New table item 767 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) Program (the program) to fund the establishment and operation of Medicare UCCs to improve access to care for urgent but not life-threatening conditions and improve health care outcomes in the community.

The program was initially launched as a pilot in 2022 to provide free, bulk-billed care for urgent, non-life-threatening conditions, and is part of the Government’s broader response to recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce (the Taskforce). The Taskforce was established by the Government in 2022 and aims to provide recommendations for reform to primary care with a focus on increasing access and affordability of primary health care services (including to GPs and multidisciplinary team care), improving prevention and management approaches for chronic health conditions, and reducing pressure on the hospital system. The program is now embedded in the health system, with more than 2 million presentations to Medicare UCCs since the first sites commenced in June 2023.

Medicare UCCs are intended to be co-located with general practices, ACCHS, and other community health centres and provide urgent care services for injuries and illnesses such as closed fractures, wounds, and minor burns. The clinics offer walk in services without appointments, operate over extended hours and provide access to diagnostic services such as pathology and radiology. The clinics provide services that are fully bulk billed under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, presenting no out-of-pocket costs to patients.

The objectives of the program are to:

improve access to urgent care in a non-hospital setting including the aim of changing consumer behaviour about options for appropriate care for urgent conditions that are not immediately life-threatening;
reduce the pressure on ED presentations in partner hospitals by providing patients with short term, episodic care for urgent conditions that are not immediately life-threatening; and
support integration with existing local health services and complement general practice.

A total of 137 Medicare UCCs are being delivered across Australia in three tranches. Tranche one, which commenced in 2023, delivered 58 Medicare UCCs, tranche two delivered 29 Medicare UCCs in 2024-25, and tranche three, which commenced in 2025-26, has delivered three Medicare UCCs in Victoria with a further 47 being established nationally. There are 90 Medicare UCCs open nationally (as of November 2025), 34 of which are located in regional, rural or remote areas.

Funding for the Medicare UCCs delivered in tranches one and two was provided through grant agreements with Primary Health Networks (PHNs) in NSW, Queensland, SA and WA, and through Federation Funding Agreements (FFAs) with state and territory governments in Victoria, Tasmania, ACT and the NT. Funding of $373.8 million over three years from
2025-26 to support tranche three of the program will be provided through grant agreements to PHNs in all jurisdictions except the NT, for which funding will be provided to one clinic via a FFA. In addition, funding will be provided to three clinics in Victoria in the first year (2025-26) via a FFA, with subsequent years from 2026-27 to be provided through grant agreements with PHNs.

PHNs and state and territory governments are funded to commission the establishment of Medicare UCCs through commissioning agreements (collectively referred to as commissioners). Commissioners undertake a commissioning process that typically involves a competitive open tender or expression-of-interest process, to determine the most appropriate provider to operate the Medicare UCC in that location. Medicare UCC locations have been determined by the Government informed by equitable distribution of clinics across the country, analysis of need and likely demand including category 4 and 5 presentations to partner EDs, suitability of existing urgent care services to be funded by the Commonwealth under the program and consideration of the likelihood to establish a successful service (e.g. workforce capacity and capability).

Nous Group (formerly Health Policy Analysis, acquired by Nous Group in July 2024) was engaged by the department in July 2023 to undertake an independent evaluation of tranches one and two of the program. The evaluation assessed the program against nine ‘measures of success’ agreed by the Australian and state and territory governments. The first interim evaluation report was publicly released in March 2025 (www.health.gov.au/resources/
publications/medicare-urgent-care-clinics-program-evaluation-first-interim-report) and assessed data available across 75 Medicare UCCs established from 30 June 2023 to
30 September 2024. The report provides early insights that Medicare UCCs are delivering urgent care services as intended with most patients presenting for acute illnesses (63 per cent) and acute injuries (26 per cent) and most patients returning home after receiving care.

Nous Group will continue to evaluate the program with the second interim evaluation report due at the end of 2025 and the final evaluation report due in 2026. The findings will be used to optimise ongoing program delivery, support continuous improvement and inform future health policy decisions.

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $657.9 million over three years from 2025-26 was included in the 2025-26 Budget under the ‘Strengthening Medicare – Expanding Medicare Urgent Care Clinics’ measure, to expand Medicare UCCs. Details are set out in Budget 2025-26, Budget Measures, Budget Paper No. 2 at page 55.

Funding of $373.8 million over three years from 2025-26 has been allocated specifically for the program. Funding for the item will come from Program 1.6: Primary Health Care Quality and Coordination, which is part of Outcome 1. Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2025-26, Budget Related Paper No. 1.9 Health and Aged Care Portfolio at 
page 31.

A closed, non-competitive grant process was undertaken in 2025 to engage eligible PHNs to support the establishment of Medicare UCCs throughout Australia. Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the resultant grant awards are available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au). Funding will also be provided through a FFA for one Medicare UCC.

The purpose of the funding is to ensure continuity of the services provided by existing Medicare UCCs and support the establishment of new Medicare UCCs. PHNs are eligible for the grant opportunity as they have been assessed by the department to have:

demonstrated experience and knowledge in commissioning health services and addressing local population needs;
existing infrastructure and relationships to support the funding activities;
knowledge of and capability to deliver the objectives and outcomes; and
capability and capacity to provide and operate the services to ensure a consistent and integrated service delivery approach.

The grant will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth resource management framework, including the PGPA Act, the PGPA Rule and the CGRPs. Consistent with the CGRPs, the department has developed grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grants. The grants will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS.

A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to PHNs. The delegate will be at SES Band 3 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

Funding decisions made in connection with the program are not considered suitable for independent merits review as the decisions relate to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefits of the program are not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The program, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of any one person. Any funding that has already been allocated would be affected if the original decision was overturned. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (see paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

The review and audit processes undertaken by the ANAO provides a mechanism to review Australian Government spending decisions and report any concerns to the Parliament. These requirements and mechanisms help to ensure the proper use of Commonwealth resources and appropriate transparency around decisions relating to making, varying or administering arrangements to spend relevant money.

Since the commencement of the program in June 2022, the department has regularly and extensively engaged with all jurisdictions, PHNs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical services and multiple peak health bodies such as the RACGP, AMA, Consumer Health Forum of Australia, Royal New Zealand College of Urgent Care, ACEM and ACRRM, on the planning, establishment, operations, and management of Medicare UCCs.

This engagement has facilitated the design, implementation, and operation of the program.

Strategic oversight of the program is provided through executive and ministerial forums including the Health Ministers Meeting, the Health Chief Executives Forum and the Strengthening Medicare Implementation and Oversight Committee. The department also regularly engages with government agencies such as Services Australia, the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs, Treasury, Finance and the Prime Minister and Cabinet, on the implementation and management of the program.

Consultation with these stakeholders and the PHNs will continue throughout the life of the grant agreements.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the following powers of the Constitution.

the social welfare power (section 51(xxiiiA)); and
the external affairs power (section 51(xxix)).

Social welfare power

The program will provide medical treatment to Australians on a bulk–billing basis (resulting in no out-of-pocket expenses), which reduces financial barriers to accessing urgent medical care for vulnerable Australians.

External affairs power

ICESCR

The objective of the program is to assist Australians to access urgent care in a non-hospital setting, which enables the treatment of urgent but not life-threatening conditions and helps to improve access to appropriate health care.

Table item 768 – Palliative Care Capability in Aged Care

New table item 768 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Palliative Care Capability in Aged Care program (the program).

Since 2017-18, the program has been delivered as ‘End of Life Directions for Aged Care’ (ELDAC) by a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) led consortium which includes the following partners:

Flinders University;
University of Technology Sydney;
Palliative Care Australia;
Aged & Community Care Providers Association;
Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association; and
Catholic Health Australia.

Funding of $24.9 million in 2025-26 will support the delivery of specialist palliative care and advance care planning advice and training, using innovative models for aged care providers and GPs providing health care for recipients of aged care services. The program funding objectives are to support and align with government priorities focussing on: 

providing palliative care, end of life care and advance care planning advice to general practitioners and aged care providers caring for recipients of aged care services;
enhancing the quality and support of palliative care services for recipients of aged care services including improving the palliative care skills and advance care planning expertise of aged care service staff and GPs; and
improving linkages and coordination of care between palliative care services and aged care services to recipients of aged care services.

The program aligns with the Government’s strategic priorities and commitments to improving aged care quality and safety under the National Palliative Care Strategy 2018 (www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/the-national-palliative-care-strategy-2018), and the National framework for advance care planning documents (www.health.gov.au/
resources/publications/national-framework-for-advance-care-planning-documents).

The intended outcomes of the program are to enable: 

GPs and aged care providers to be empowered with knowledge of palliative care and advance care planning relevant to their situation;
enhanced links between aged, primary and palliative care services, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, expertise and support; and
advice and support provided to GPs and aged care providers regarding palliative care and advance care planning, including advance care directive resources, processes, legislation and accountabilities relevant to their state or territory.

In 2020, the program was independently evaluated by HealthConsult Pty Ltd (HealthConsult). The final evaluation report was released on 16 December 2020 (www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/final-evaluation-report-of-the-end-of-life-directions-for-aged-care-program) and included seven recommendations to improve the delivery of the program. The program responded to concrete elements of the recommendations and the department will continue to ensure that the program adapts, as needed, to ensure it aligns with the legislative context and system needs.

The program is undergoing another independent evaluation by Allen and Clarke Consulting Pty Ltd (Allen and Clarke), which commenced in June 2025. Findings will be available when the evaluation concludes in late 2025 and the department will use the findings to inform continuous improvement of the program.

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $24.9 million in 2025-26 (and $24.9 million per year ongoing) for the item will come from Program 1.6: Primary Health Care Quality and Coordination, which is part of Outcome 1. Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2025-26, Budget Related Paper No. 1.9, Health and Aged Care Portfolio at page 51. 

Consistent with the CGRPs, the department has developed grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

Grant allocation decisions made in connection with the program are not considered suitable for independent merits review as the decisions relate to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefit of the program is not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The grant, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. Any funding that has already been allocated would be affected if the original decision was overturned. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (see paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

In 2020, consultation occurred with stakeholders from the palliative care, aged care and primary care sectors, peak bodies, and consumers as part of the independent evaluation of the program by HealthConsult. Feedback from consultations was generally supportive and the QUT led consortium addressed and adopted the recommendations from the evaluation into the operation of the program.

The department regularly consults with key stakeholders across the palliative care, aged care and primary care sectors, on the ongoing program with the most recent engagement conducted in late 2024 with stakeholders from the following cohorts:  

palliative care workforce from aged care, healthcare and specialist settings;
carers;
national palliative care project representatives, including project leads and team members;
national and state/territory peak bodies (e.g. Palliative Care Australia);
tertiary/vocational training colleges in palliative care, primary care, aged care, disability, healthcare and rural health ;
representatives from state and territory health departments; and
PHNs.

Findings from the Allen and Clarke evaluation, which will be available when the evaluation concludes in late 2025, will be incorporated into the design and implementation of the grant opportunity guidelines. Ongoing consultation within the sector is a key part of the program monitoring and governance mechanisms. Consultation with grant recipients and stakeholders from across the palliative care, aged care and primary care sectors will continue throughout the life of the grant agreements.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the following powers of the Constitution.

the communications power (section 51(v));
the social welfare power (section 51(xxiiiA)); and
the external affairs power (section 51(xxix)).

Communications power

Section 51(v) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘postal, telegraphic, telephonic and other like services’.

The program will improve linkages between aged care services and palliative care services through training that is delivered online.

Social welfare power

The social welfare power in section 51(xxiiiA) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to the provision of certain social welfare benefits, including in respect to medical services (but not as to authorise any form of civil conscription).

The program will improve the palliative care skills and advance care planning expertise of GPs and aged care providers through education and training opportunities.

External affairs power

Section 51(xxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘external affairs’.

The treaty implementation aspect of the external affairs power supports legislation implementing Australia’s international obligations under treaties to which it is a party.

ICESCR

The program will provide advisory services on specialist palliative care and advance care planning to GPs and aged care providers caring for aged care recipients which will improve the quality of care for aged care recipients, prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and shorten hospital stays

Table item 769 – Peer Workforce Training Placements

New table item 769 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Peer Workforce Training Placements program (the program) to provide benefits to students by funding peer worker training placements for individuals with personal experience of mental health challenges.

The program will implement the 2025 Federal election commitments for primary care in line with Labor’s costed plan to Build Australia’s Future. 

Funding of $2.8 million over four years from 2025-26 for the program will support 500 lived experience (peer) worker training placements. Peer workers are people with a lived experience of mental health challenges and/or suicidality, or carers of people with mental health challenges and/or suicidality, who provide emotional and social support to other persons with a common experience. This is undertaken through a range of mediums such as phone calls, face-to-face sessions and participating in multidisciplinary teams. The type of support, and the role of peer workers, may vary according to the work setting. For example, the scope and breadth of peer worker roles may include (but is not limited to) providing care to individuals presenting to a mental health and/or suicide prevention service, and organisational leadership roles such as supervisory and/or executive governance positions that facilitate the provision of peer worker services by an organisation and its staff.

Unlike other mental health professions, peer workers’ personal experience, not training, forms the core basis of their value and competency. However, many peer workers possess or are acquiring formal mental health qualifications. They are often employed in hospital settings, community mental health services, aged care, disability and suicide prevention services.

The objectives of the program are to:

support not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) to facilitate work placements for peer workforce trainees undertaking the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, available through TAFEs and private providers;
support supervision costs and organisational readiness to support peer workers in the NFPs; and
build capacity within the mental health and suicide prevention peer workforce, including for First Nations peer workers and youth peer workers.

The program aligns with the Government’s strategic priorities and commitments, including:

the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022-2032 (www.health.gov.au/
resources/collections/national-mental-health-workforce-strategy-2022-2032) to address workforce capacity, composition and distribution issues to support service models that complement existing clinical offerings, including the new service model being delivered under Better Access Reform, which aims to shift away from a
one-size-fits-all approach in the mental health system and relieve pressure on the Better Access initiative;
the Better Access Evaluation (www.health.gov.au/our-work/better-access-evaluation), specifically in response to recommendations 2 and 3, through considering opportunities to address workforce capacity, and composition issues in the context of complementary service delivery models to Better Access. These recommendations note that improved tailoring of care would likely reduce overall demand and allow consumers’ needs to be better matched to providers’ training, levels of experience and scopes of practice;
the Productivity Commission Inquiry Report into Mental Health (PC Inquiry) (www.pc.gov.au/inquiries-and-research/mental-health), released in 2020, which highlighted peer workers as a valuable but under-utilised part of the mental health workforce. The PC Inquiry noted several challenges that have hindered the development and effectiveness of a peer workforce, including insufficient recognition of the value of peer workers; inadequate supervision and support, poor professional development and career advancement, and the absence of a representative professional body; and
joint commitments of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, under the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (Clause 159(e)) to support the lived experience (peer) workforce, as well as broader National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reform, including establishment of Foundational Supports for those with a psychosocial disability outside of the NDIS (Actions 1.11, 7.5 and 7.6 of the Independent NDIS Review).

The intended outcomes of the program are to support the implementation of best practice in training and supervising peer workers and their integration into multidisciplinary teams, strengthen national training pathways with multiple entry points including for youth peer workers and First Nations peer workers, and support the development of a recognised, professional and sustainable mental health workforce, beyond the traditional clinical professions, to assist with meeting demand.

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $2.8 million over four years from 2025-26 will be included in the 2025-26
Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2025-26 for the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio. Funding for the item will come from Program 1.2: Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, which is part of Outcome 1.

Funding will be provided through an open, competitive grant process which will be undertaken in 2025-26 and will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth resource management framework, including the PGPA Act, the PGPA Rule and the CGRPs. Consistent with the CGRPs, the department will develop grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grant will be made available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS. A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to eligible organisations. The delegate will be at the SES Band 2 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function.

Grant allocation decisions made in connection with the program are not considered suitable for independent merits review as they are decisions relating to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. In addition, the benefit of the program is not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather applies generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The program, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (see paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

The ARC does consider that administrative accountability in relation to such allocative decisions should be given greater emphasis, including ensuring that:

the processes of allocating funds are fair;
the criteria for funding are made clear; and
decisions are made objectively.

Further, the right to review under section 75(v) of the Constitution and review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 may be available. Persons affected by spending decisions would also have recourse to the Commonwealth Ombudsman where appropriate.

In 2023-24, the Commonwealth supported the Peer Workforce Scholarships Program (which ceased in December 2024), and through this, the department formed a community of practice (CoP) with representatives from each jurisdiction. The department has continued its engagement with this CoP, and it will be further engaged to support the development and implementation of the grant opportunity guidelines.

Between May 2024 and September 2025, the department undertook consultations in relation to the establishment of a Peer Workforce Association (the Association) which complements the program. Lived Experience Australia Ltd (LEA), which recently provided the department with its final report to update the previously published 2019 Towards Professionalisation Report, was informed by consultations with the mental health and suicide prevention peer workforce sector, and in June and July 2025, the department undertook a complementary survey with the peer workforce sector. Though specific to the Association, the survey and consultations will help to inform the intended scope and framing of the grant opportunity.

The department is also committed to regular, transparent engagement with the mental health and suicide prevention sector and meets regularly with sector working groups and individual organisations which includes (but is not limited to) monthly meetings with the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (the national mental health consumer peak), Mental Health Carers Australia (the national mental health carer peak), and LEA; as well as ad hoc meetings with a range of organisations who employ and/or train peer workers, such as Orygen Youth Health and Roses in the Ocean. The department also supports regular Ministerial engagement with the sector, facilitating their participation in key events, such as the annual Mental Health Australia Members Policy Forum and ad hoc meetings with representatives from community organisations seeking to discuss priorities and challenges specific to the peer workforce.

Ongoing consultation with the sector, the CoP and grant recipients will continue throughout the life of the grant agreements.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the social welfare power (section 51(xxiiiA)) of the Constitution.

Social welfare power

The social welfare power in section 51(xxiiiA) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to the provision of certain social welfare benefits in respect of benefits to students (but not as to authorise any form of civil conscription).

The program will provide benefits to students by funding peer worker training placements to people with personal experience of mental health challenges and assist students undertaking a formal qualification to complete the minimum work requirements to obtain the certification and join the mental health and suicide prevention workforce.

Table item 770 – Psychiatry Workforce Program

New table item 770 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Psychiatry Workforce Program (the PWP) to fund training posts in psychiatry and associated supervisory support.

The program will implement the 2025 Federal election commitments for primary care in line with Labor’s costed plan to Build Australia’s Future. 

The objective of the PWP is to improve access to high quality mental health care for all Australians, with a focus on those living in rural and remote areas, and aims to: 

attract, upskill, distribute and retain key mental health professionals to address mental health workforce shortages and maldistribution; and
increase access to psychiatric care by increasing the number of psychiatric training places including in rural and remote areas across Australia.

The PWP commenced in 2022 in response to the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan’s fifth pillar, ‘Workforce and Governance’ (www.health.gov.au/
resources/publications/the-australian-governments-national-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention-plan), to boost the psychiatrist workforce by making available 30 additional training posts by 2023, supporting regional and remote training pathways, and promoting psychiatry as a career pathway.

The Psychiatry Supply and Demand Study (the Study) health workforce model provides the department with key insights to support planning and analysis of the psychiatry workforce. As part of the Study, psychiatry supply and demand modelling undertaken by the department in June 2025 includes baseline projections that estimate a shortfall of 103.7 FTE psychiatrists in 2024 (2.7 per cent of total supply), increasing to 385.4 FTE by 2033
(7.4 per cent). These projections assume current service levels and population growth, without accounting for unmet demand. When unmet demand is considered, reflecting individuals who require psychiatric care but not currently accessing services, the estimated shortfall increases significantly to 762.7 FTE in 2024 (19.6 per cent of total supply), increasing to 1,278.2 FTE in 2033 (24.7 per cent). The PWP is intended to help address this significant ongoing unmet demand for psychiatry services.

The RANZCP has delivered the PWP since its inception in 2022. Funding of $30.1 million over four years from 2025-26 will be provided to the RANZCP to support:

the continuation of 30 existing PWP psychiatry training posts and associated supervisory support;
10 new psychiatry training posts and associated supervisory support in Medicare Mental Health Centres (MMHCs); and
the establishment and accreditation of health setting agreements with MMHCs for the training posts to commence on 1 July 2026.

Through the PWP, the RANZCP works to identify, coordinate and manage psychiatry training posts and associated supervisory support in conjunction with health settings, such as hospitals, private practice, community health centres and ACCHS, to ensure they are meeting training accreditation requirements. A trainee (a current RANZCP trainee or Specialist International Medical Graduate on a pathway to RANZCP Fellowship) may transition through a PWP training post once or more during their five-year fellowship, with the remainder of the training experience delivered through jurisdiction-supported training posts or a private-funded training post. Trainees are selected by the RANZCP and the relevant health setting.

The intended outcomes of the PWP are to increase the psychiatry workforce, particularly in rural and remote areas across Australia and increase the number of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander psychiatry trainees. 

The PWP aligns with and supports the Government’s strategic priorities and investments, including:

the National Medical Workforce Strategy 2021-2031 (NMWS) (www.health.gov.au/our-work/national-medical-workforce-strategy-2021-2031) which identifies psychiatry as a priority profession requiring urgent focus and called for restructuring and reforming training pathways to address the undersupply of trainees in rural and remote areas;
the Stronger Rural Health Strategy (SRHS) (www.health.gov.au/topics/rural-health-workforce/stronger-rural-health-strategy) which aims to build a sustainable, high-quality health workforce distributed across the country according to community needs, particularly in rural and remote communities and focuses on strategies along the workforce development continuum from education and training to recruitment to build a sustainable rural health workforce;
the National Mental Health Workforce Strategy 2022-2032; and
the Better Access Evaluation, which found that whilst access to psychiatrists had increased through the Better Access treatment services due to the introduction of the related Medicare co-payment, the greater (albeit still undersupplied) availability of psychiatrists in Modified Monash category (MM) 1 areas (MM1 is a major city), resulted in MM1-based psychiatrists providing the majority of psychiatry Better Access treatment services.

An independent evaluation of the PWP is currently being undertaken by Healthcare Management Advisors (HMA) and is expected to be finalised in 2025-26. The findings will be used to inform the development and implementation of future grant opportunities and in line with requirements under the Commonwealth resource management framework including the CGRPs. In addition, the department will conduct a mid-agreement review of the PWP by June 2027 to align the funding of PWP training posts and associated supervisory support with the redesigned Specialist Training Program (a Commonwealth funded program that funds a broader range of non-GP medical specialist training in regional and private settings), which will allow for implementation of agreed recommendations from the current PWP evaluation and ensure a more coordinated approach for both programs.

Funding amount and arrangements, merits review and consultation

Funding of $30.1 million over four years from 2025-26 will be included in the 2025-26
Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2025-26 for the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio. Funding for the item will come from Program 1.4: Health Workforce, which is part of Outcome 1.

Funding will be provided through a closed, non-competitive grant process to the RANZCP to establish, administer and facilitate the PWP. The RANZCP is eligible for the grant opportunity as it has been assessed by the department as the best suited organisation to have:  

the capability to deliver the specified project activities – it is the only organisation currently accredited by the AMC to provide training for medical professionals wishing to obtain psychiatry specialty registration under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law; 
knowledge of and capability to deliver the objectives and outcomes – it is the only organisation accredited to assess knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes and award psychiatry fellowship qualifications;
existing infrastructure, capability, specialist knowledge and relationships to undertake the grant activities - it has been delivering the PWP since its inception in 2022 and is currently delivering psychiatry training to registrars and international medical graduates including the CPTP which it also developed.

The grant will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth resource management framework, including the PGPA Act, the PGPA Rule and the CGRPs.  Consistent with the CGRPs, the department will develop grant opportunity guidelines and will have regard to the nine key principles in administering the grant.

Grant opportunity guidelines and information about the grant will be made available on the GrantConnect website (www.grants.gov.au), and the grant will be administered by the Community Grants Hub, part of DSS. A delegate of the Secretary of the department under the FFSP Act will be responsible for approving Commonwealth funding provided to the eligible organisation. The delegate will be at SES Band 1 level and have appropriate experience and knowledge to exercise this function. 

Grant allocation decisions made in connection with the PWP are not considered suitable for independent merits review because the funding will be delivered through a closed,
non-competitive grant to an organisation that the department has assessed as suitable.

In addition, these funding decisions relate to the allocation of a finite resource, from which all potential claims for a share of the resource cannot be met. The benefits of the PWP are not directed towards the circumstances of particular persons, but rather apply generally to the community, and is therefore considered to be unsuitable for review. The PWP, by its nature, is unlikely to affect the interests of a sole individual. Any funding that has already been allocated would be affected if the original decision was overturned. The ARC has recognised that it is justifiable to exclude merits review in relation to decisions of this nature (see paragraphs 4.11 to 4.19 of the ARC guide).

The department also regularly consults with broader health workforce stakeholders on the delivery of the PWP including the Health Workforce Taskforce and the Medical Workforce Advisory Collaboration, to ensure medical specialties and expertise continue to align with medical workforce priorities. The current independent evaluation of the PWP being undertaken by HMA (expected to be finalised in 2025-26) expands this consultation to include trainee experiences under the PWP and capture the views of health settings that support a training post.

Ongoing consultation within the sector is a key part of the PWP monitoring and governance mechanisms. Consultation with the RANZCP and other psychiatry workforce key stakeholders will continue throughout the life of the grant agreement.

Constitutional considerations

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the external affairs power (section 51(xxix)) of the Constitution.

Section 51(xxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to ‘external affairs’. The external affairs power supports legislation implementing Australia’s international obligations under treaties to which it is a party.

ICESCR

Australia is a party to the ICESCR. Article 2 requires each State Party to ‘take steps…to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realisation’ of this right ‘by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures’. Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The steps to be taken by States Parties to achieve full realisation of the right to health are specified in Article 12(2) and include steps necessary for the ‘creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness’ (Article 12(2)(d)).

The PWP activities are directed towards meeting demand for psychiatry services in rural and remote areas by increasing the number of training posts and improving supervisory support for trainees. This will produce skilled and qualified psychiatrists to join the mental health workforce, improve mental health service coverage, and enable greater access to high quality mental health care services.

Attachment B

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Health, Disability and Ageing Measures No. 4) Regulations 2025

This disallowable legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the legislative instrument

Section 32B of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 (the FFSP Act) authorises the Commonwealth to make, vary and administer arrangements and grants specified in the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 (the Principal Regulations) and to make, vary and administer arrangements and grants for the purposes of programs specified in the Regulations. Schedule 1AA and Schedule 1AB to the Principal Regulations specify the arrangements, grants and programs. The powers in the FFSP Act to make, vary or administer arrangements or grants may be exercised on behalf of the Commonwealth by Ministers and the accountable authorities of non‑corporate Commonwealth entities, as defined under section 12 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

This disallowable legislative instrument makes the following amendments to Part 3 of Schedule 1AB:

adds table item 107 ‘Grant to M Riewoldt Holdings Limited’;
adds table item 108 ‘Grant to CareFlight Limited’;
adds table item 109 ‘Grant to FightMND Ltd’;

and the following amendments to Part 4 of Schedule 1AB:

adds table item 764 ‘Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Program’;
adds table item 765 ‘First Nations Maternal and Child Health Program’;
adds table item 766 ‘Growing the Psychiatry Workforce—Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry Scholarships’;
adds table item 767 ‘Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Program;
adds table item 768 ‘Palliative Care Capability in Aged Care;
adds table item 769 ‘Peer Workforce Training Placements’; and
adds table item 770 ‘Psychiatry Workforce Program’.

Table item 107 – Grant to M Riewoldt Holdings Limited

New table item 107 establishes legislative authority for the Government to provide a grant to
M Riewoldt Holdings Limited (Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision) to improve outcomes and support for patients with Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (BMFS) through research, support for critical research infrastructure, enhanced support services and education (the grant).

BMFS are a group of rare chronic medical conditions in which the bone marrow fails to produce sufficient red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, established in 2015, is named after Maddie Riewoldt, a 26-year-old woman who died of complications of a BMFS called aplastic anaemia. The organisation was founded by Maddie’s family and aims to support vital research that accelerates prevention, diagnosis and treatments of BMFS, while providing support, guidance and resources to patients and their families.

Grant funding of $3.0 million over three years from 2025-26 to Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision aims to:

support its Centre of Research Excellence in Bone Marrow Biology to deliver innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of BMFS;
expand its reach, support and engagement with more patients, their families and carers, through their telesupport service and peer support program to increase understand of BMFS presentation and management;
implement a professional development program for healthcare providers to raise awareness of the presenting symptoms of BMFS to achieve earlier and accurate diagnosis and provide optimal treatment and management options for patients and their families; and
support the long-term future of the Aplastic Anaemia and other Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes Registry and the Australian Marrow Failure Biobank to grow and accelerate scientific research.

The intended outcome of the grant is to strengthen the capacity within the health sector for BMFS diagnosing, treatment and management needs.

Human rights implications

Table item 107 engages the following rights:

the right to health – Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), read with Article 2;
the rights of people with disability – Article 8 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), read with Article 4; and
the rights of the child – Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), read with Article 4.

Right to health 

Article 2(1) of the ICESCR requires each State Party to ‘take steps… to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realization’ of the rights recognised in the ICESCR ‘by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures’.

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

Articles 12(2)(c) and 12(2)(d) of the ICESCR requires Australia to take steps necessary for ‘the prevention, treatment and control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases’ and ‘the creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness’. 

The grant will promote the right to health by improving outcomes and management of BMFS for patients living with BMFS, including their families and carers, through research, support for critical research infrastructure, education and enhanced support services.

Rights of people with disability 

Article 4 of the CRPD provides that States Parties undertake to ensure and promote the full realisation of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities without discrimination of any kind on the basis of disability. 

Article 4(d) of the CRPD requires States Parties to undertake to ‘refrain from engaging in any act or practice that is inconsistent with the present Convention and to ensure that public authorities and institutions act in conformity with the present Convention’. 

Article 8 of the CRPD requires that State Parties adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures to “raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities”, which includes “initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns”.

BMFS is considered a chronic condition and patients living with BMFS require ongoing medical attention. The grant will improve care for patients living with BMFS, including their families and carers, raise awareness and support enhanced research efforts and education.

Rights of the child

Article 4 of the CRC requires that States Parties to the CRC shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of all rights under the CRC.

Article 24(1) of the CRC requires that ‘States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services’.  

The grant will provide support to enhance research efforts, raise awareness and education and improve care for patients with BMFS in which children and young people are disproportionately affected.

Table item 107 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 108 – Grant to CareFlight Limited

CareFlight has delivered aeromedical care to remote patients since 1986. Its fully integrated aeromedical crews which include a specialist doctor, nurse or paramedic, and pilot and aircrew officer, work together as a team to access the incident sites and provide essential aeromedical care. The northernmost section of the NT, known as the Top End, is very challenging to access by road, with difficult terrain or limited access.

CareFlight helps people who are seriously ill or injured that need urgent medical attention and works closely, and in collaboration, with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to deliver culturally appropriate and clinically safe care. 

Grant funding of $10.1 million in 2025-26 to CareFlight aims to:

enhance aeromedical emergency capabilities delivering more critical care services to the communities in the Top End of the NT;
improve access, reliability and timeliness to emergency medical care in some of the most remote parts of Australia; and
ensure improved health outcomes for First Nations communities, which represent over 90 per cent of CareFlight’s patients in the region.

Human rights implications

Table item 108 engages the following rights:

the right to health – Article 12 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2; and
the rights of the child – Article 24 of the CRC, read with Article 4.

Right to health 

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The grant will improve the capacity, quality and distribution of health services to better meet the needs of rural and remote communities in the Top End of the NT. This in turn will contribute to the prevention, treatment and control of disease and the creation of conditions that assure to all medical services and attention in the event of sickness.

Rights of the child

Article 4 of the CRC requires that States Parties to the CRC shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of all rights under the CRC.

Article 24 of the CRC obliges each State Party to ensure the rights of children to the highest attainable standard of health. This includes measures to combat disease and malnutrition, provide access to health education and develop preventive health care. Sport and physical activity have recognised physical and mental health benefits and can aid in the prevention of an array of diseases.

The grant will increase CareFlight’s capacity to provide aeromedical services for children, which in turn, will contribute to the creation of conditions that ensure the highest attainable standard of health for children.

Table item 108 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 109 – Grant to FightMND Ltd

Established in 2014, FightMND is a nonprofit organisation that works to raise awareness and fund vital research to improve the quality of life and find treatments and a cure for those living with MND. MND is a progressive and fatal neurological disease that affects around 2,752 Australians.

Grant funding of $4.5 million over three years from 2025-26 will be provided to FightMND to support and facilitate the following activities:

scientific research and development projects, including holding conferences and opportunities for information sharing, for the diagnosis and treatment of MND;
provide administrative and logistical support for the Global MND Research Roundtable;
upgrade FightMND’s customer relationship management capacity; and
the development and distribution of content to raise awareness about MND using digital platforms (such as websites and social media) and media outlets (such as radio and television).

The intended outcome of the grant is to improve health outcomes for people living with MND, as well as their families and carers.

Human rights implications

Table item 109 engages the following rights:

the right to health – Article 12 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2; and
the rights of people with disability – Article 8 of the CRPD, read with Article 4.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The grant will promote the right to health by improving MND research with aim of finding effective treatments and a cure for MND and raise awareness and care initiatives for MND which will support better health outcomes for Australians.

Rights of people with disability 

Article 8 of the CRPD requires that States Parties adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures to “raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities”, which includes “initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns”.

MND is recognised as a permanent disability in Australia. The rights of people with MND are protected under the CRPD. Research outcomes play a crucial role in advancing the human rights of people living with MND by providing better understanding, treatment options and support systems.

Grant funding to FightMND will support research and help raise awareness for MND through national awareness campaigns which will improve consumer knowledge, diagnosis rates and promote respect for people living with MND.

Table item 109 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 764 – Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Program

New table item 764 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the
Blood-Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Research Program (the program)

to fund research activities that support reducing the incidence and prevalence rates of
blood-borne viruses (BBV) and sexually transmissible infections (STI).

Since 2021, the program has successfully supported the development of evidence-based policy to address prevention, management and reduction of BBV and STI transmission within the Australian community. The objective of the program is to fund high-quality, collaborative and translational research that forms part of the Government’s broader health policy agenda, including the six National Strategies for BBV and STI (National Strategies), and supports broader efforts to close the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Funding of $4.8 million per year over four years from 2025-26 for the program will support:

research programs that directly address priority areas of action within the National Strategies;
studies that focus on BBV and STI prevention, testing and treatment uptake, including address gaps identified in the care cascades (e.g. diagnosis, treatment, prevention);
interventions that reduce stigma and discrimination and improve health outcomes;
implementation and evaluation research to inform health policy and practice; and
capacity building initiatives that strengthen partnerships with affected communities.

Human rights implications

Table item 764 engages the following rights:

the right to health – Articles 12 and 15 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2;

the right to self-determination - Article 1 of the ICESCR and Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), read with Article 2 and Article 3 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP);
the right to equality and non-discrimination - Article 26 of the ICCPR and Article 2 of the UNDRIP; and
the rights of women - Article 12 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), read with Article 2.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

Article 15(1)(b) of the ICESCR recognises the right of everyone to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications.

By supporting research into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of BBV and STI, the program will contribute to improved health outcomes, not only for those directly affected by BBV and STI but also for the broader Australian community, through strengthened public health systems. Funding high quality research will ensure that new scientific knowledge and innovations can be developed and applied for the broader public good. The program will foster dissemination of findings to health practitioners, policy makers and communities, ensuring that advances in knowledge are accessible and used to improve practices.

Right to self-determination

Article 1 of the ICESCR and Article 1 of the ICCPR requires that each State party recognise that ‘all peoples have the right of self-determination’ and ‘by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a person be deprived of its own means of subsistence. And that each State Party shall promote the realisation of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 2 of the ICCPR requires that each State Party undertakes to respect and to ensure the rights recognised in the ICCPR, and to adopt laws or other measures to give effect to these rights, and ensure an effective remedy to any person whose rights recognised in the Covenant are violated.

Article 3 of the UNDRIP states that ‘indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’.

Certain populations, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who inject drugs, and LGBTQI+ communities, are disproportionately affected by BBV and STI. The program will fund research for the purposes of treating BBV and STI and aims to reduce the social stigma associated with such conditions.

Right to equality and non-discrimination

Article 26 of the ICCPR recognises the right to equality and non-discrimination on, among other grounds: race, sex, colour, language, national origin or ‘other status’. 

Article 2 of the UNDRIP states ‘indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity.’

Certain populations, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who inject drugs, and LGBTQI+ communities, are disproportionately affected by BBV and STI. By specifically prioritising research that addresses the needs of these groups, the program will help to reduce inequities and ensure that vulnerable populations are not left behind in access to health services, information and outcomes.

Rights of women

Article 2 of the CEDAW requires States Parties to condemn discrimination against women in all its forms and agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women. This includes taking all appropriate legislative and policy measures to eliminate discrimination against women.

Article 12 of the CEDAW provides that States Parties take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services.

The program will support research that informs BBV and STI prevention and treatment for women, including young women, and contributes to their ability to access appropriate and effective health services which are essential for their wellbeing and development.

Table item 764 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 765 - First Nations Maternal and Child Health Program

Since 2009, the Australian Family Partnership Program (AFPP) has supported women pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child until the child is two years old. The AFPP existing sites currently operate across 14 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) and one state government service, under an international licence held by the department with the University of Colorado.

Funding of $103.1 million over four years from 2025-26 for the program will support the transition of the existing 15 sites delivering the services under the AFPP to a new First Nations-led model of care, codesigned by the ACCHS sector. The program aims to align maternal health service delivery with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) and ensure the continued delivery of culturally safe, maternal and perinatal care for women pregnant with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child and support infant health care that can extend to children aged two years old.

Human rights implications

Table item 765 engages the following rights:

the right to self-determination – Article 1 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2,
Article 1 of the ICCPR, read with Article 2, and Article 3 of the UNDRIP;
the right to enjoy and benefit from culture – Article 15 of the ICESCR and Articles 5, 11 and 12 of the UNDRIP;
the rights to equality and non-discrimination - Article 26 of the ICCPR and Article 2 of the UNDRIP;
the right to informed consent relating to legislative or administrative measures that may affect them – Articles 19 and 23 of the UNDRIP;
the rights of the child – Article 24 of the CRC, read with Article 4;
the rights of women – Article 12 of the CEDAW, read with Article 2, and Article 22 of the UNDRIP; and
the right to health – Article 12 of the ICESCR and Article 7 of the UNDRIP.

Right to self-determination

Article 1 of the ICESCR and Article 1 of the ICCPR requires that each State Party recognise that ‘all peoples have the right of self-determination’ and ‘by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development’. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources without prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a person be deprived of its own means of subsistence. And that each State Party shall promote the realisation of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

The program will promote this right through empowering ACCHS, their patients and communities to better exercise choice, control and participation to make informed decisions about maternal and infant health care including the increased flexibility of the program to enable ACCHS to better tailor to the needs of each community. The co-design approach and establishment of genuine, formal partnerships with ACCHS also promotes the right to self-determination.

Right to enjoy and benefit from culture

Article 15(1)(a) of the ICESCR recognises the right of everyone to take part in cultural life.

Article 5 of the UNDRIP recognises that ‘Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct, political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.’

Article 11 of the UNDRIP states ‘Indigenous peoples have the right to practice and revitalize their cultural traditions and customs.’

Article 12 of the UNDRIP recognises ‘Indigenous peoples have the right to manifest, practice, develop and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies…’.

The program promotes this right by promoting and prioritising First Nations cultures. By aligning with the National Agreement, the program acknowledges that the integration of strong First Nations cultures in service delivery is fundamental to improved life outcomes for First Nations peoples.

Birthing on Country (BoC) is a term adopted by some First Nations communities to describe First Nations-led continuity of maternal health care services, delivered in a hospital or registered birth centre setting. The BoC principles incorporated by the program will align with and promote the right to enjoy and benefit from culture including:

providing for inclusion of traditional practices, such as access to community, language, culture and birth ceremonies;

involving connections with land and Country that the birthing women are from, whether this connection be physical or spiritual (if physical presence on Country is not possible for birth);

incorporating a holistic and culturally relevant definition of health;

valuing First Nations ways of knowing and learning; and

risk assessment to ensure service delivery is culturally competent.

Right to equality and non-discrimination

Article 26 of the ICCPR recognises the right to equality and non-discrimination on, among other grounds: race, sex, colour, language, national origin or ‘other status’. 

Article 2 of the UNDRIP states ‘Indigenous peoples and individuals are free and equal to all other peoples and individuals and have the right to be free from any kind of discrimination, in the exercise of their rights, in particular that based on their indigenous origin or identity.’

Indigenous mothers and babies disproportionately experience adverse perinatal outcomes compared with non-Indigenous mothers and babies. Through its alignment with the National Agreement, the program promotes this right by acknowledging the strength of First Nations people and their cultures that have prevailed and endured despite the experience of entrenched disadvantage, political exclusion, intergenerational trauma and ongoing institutional racism.

Right to informed consent relating to legislative or administrative measures that may affect them

Article 19 of the UNDRIP states that ‘States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free, prior and informed consent before adopting and implementing legislative or administrative measures that may affect them.’

Article 23 of the UNDRIP recognises ‘Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for exercising their right to development. In particular, indigenous peoples have the right to be actively involved in developing and determining health, housing and other economic and social programs affecting them, and as far as possible, to administer such programs through their own institutions’.

The program will be co-designed in line with all four Priority Reforms of the National Agreement. In alignment with these, the department will:

work collaboratively and in genuine, formal partnership with the ACCHSs and the National Leadership Team within the Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights, who are contracted to provide operational support for the delivery of the AFPP licenced model and will also provide transition support to all sites;

ensure partnerships are accountable and representative, and decision-making is transparent and shared between government and First Nations people;

ensure participation in decision-making is done by First Nations people that are appointed by First Nations people in a transparent way, based on their own structures, organisations and communities; and

embed cultural safety and supporting the identification and elimination of racism.

Rights of the child

Article 4 of the CRC requires that States Parties to the CRC shall undertake all appropriate legislative, administrative, and other measures for the implementation of all rights under the CRC.

The program promotes these rights through the delivery of First Nations-led, culturally safe care across the perinatal period and into infancy to give First Nations children the best start to life. This is in line with the National Agreement ‘Outcome 2: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are born healthy and strong’.

The program will include strong alignment with BoC models of care. BoC contributes to reductions in child protection involvement and reduced removals of First Nations babies, which directly contributes to Closing the Gap Target 12 – ‘By 2031, reduce the rate of over representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home-care to 45 per cent”. Where measured, the odds of removal are 63 per cent lower for mothers in BoC compared to standard care. As a preventive measure, BoC is disrupting generational cycles of child protection contact, trauma, and maltreatment, and contributing to short and long-term health and wellbeing benefits for mothers and babies.

Rights of women

Article 22 of the UNDRIP recognises ‘Particular attention shall be paid to the rights and special needs of indigenous elders, women, youth, children and persons with disabilities in the implementation of this Declaration.’

The program specifically supports First Nations women across the perinatal period and into infancy to support their role as mothers. Through alignment with BoC principles, the program will support the rights of women by increasing the availability and accessibility of culturally safe maternal and infant health care, including by:

affirming women’s rights to cultural identity and practices during childbirth;
enabling self-determination in how and where they give birth;
respecting each woman’s cultural, emotional and spiritual needs;
empowering women to better themselves; and
supporting informed decision-making and autonomy.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

Article 7 of the UNDRIP states that ‘Indigenous individuals have the rights to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security of person.’

The program will promote the right to health by increasing access to culturally safe, acceptable and high-quality maternal and infant health services to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Program design and service delivery aligns with First Nations’ wholistic concept of health, including physical, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing, as well as the health of the individual, family and community.

Table item 765 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 766 - Growing the Psychiatry Workforce—Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry Scholarships

New table item 766 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Growing the Psychiatry Workforce - Certificate of Postgraduate Training in Clinical Psychiatry (CPTP) Scholarships (CPTP scholarships) to support scholarships for medical professionals to undertake postgraduate training in clinical psychiatry.

general practitioners (GPs);
rural generalists;
emergency medicine physicians; and
other medical practitioners who assess and support the mental health of their patients.

Funding of $2.1 million over four years from 2025-26 will support the RANZCP to administer the CPTP scholarships for the purposes of:

attracting, upskilling, distributing and retaining medical professionals who can address mental health workforce shortages and maldistribution; 
improving access to high quality mental health care for all Australians with a focus on those living in rural and remote areas; and
increasing access to mental health care, especially in rural and remote locations across Australia, by increasing the number of primary care providers and emergency clinicians to manage mental health issues at the first point of contact.

Human rights implications

Table item 766 engages the following rights:

the right to work - Article 6 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2, and Articles 1 to 4 of the International Labour Organization Convention concerning Vocational Guidance and Vocational Training in the Development of Human Resources (ILO Convention 142);
the right to health – Article 12 of the ICESCR; and
the right to education - Article 13 of the ICESCR.

Right to work

Article 2 of the ICESCR requires Australia as a State Party to ‘take steps…to the maximum of its available resources, with a view to achieving progressively the full realisation’ of this right ‘by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures’.

Article 6 of the ICESCR recognises the right to work and provides that the States Parties will take appropriate steps to achieve the realisation of the right to work, including through technical and vocational training. Further, Articles 1 to 4 of the ILO Convention 142 relate to the adoption and development of comprehensive and coordinated policies and programs of vocational guidance and training, including providing broadest possible information and guidance, which are closely linked with employment for all people.

The CPTP scholarships are available to GPs and medical professionals who currently work in the health sector building workforce capacity to deliver psychiatry services in a range of settings. Through building workforce capacity, it is anticipated the CPTP scholarships will provide increased employment opportunities for those who attain the qualifications, which will promote the right to work.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The CPTP scholarships are available to GPs and medical professionals who currently work in the health sector, building workforce capacity to deliver psychiatry services in a range of settings. The provision of these services being more accessible to the broader community, including in rural and remote communities, will promote the right to health.

Right to education

Article 13(1) of the ICESCR provides that the States Parties agree that education ‘…shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms’.

Article 13(2)(b) of the ICESCR relates to the general availability and accessibility of secondary education in its different forms to all. 

The CPTP scholarships support upskilling of eligible individuals (GPs and medical professionals) to be capable of providing appropriate psychiatry services. The CPTP scholarships promotes the right to education by helping to reduce financial barriers for those that may not have the financial means to undertake the training otherwise.

Table item 766 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 767 – Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Program

The program was initially launched as a pilot in 2022 to provide free, bulk-billed care for urgent, non-life-threatening conditions, and is part of the Government’s broader response to recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce. The program is now embedded in the health system, with more than 2 million presentations to Medicare UCCs since the first sites commenced in June 2023.

A total of 137 Medicare UCCs are being delivered across Australia in three tranches. Tranche one, which commenced in 2023, delivered 58 Medicare UCCs with a further 29 Medicare UCCs delivered in tranche two in 2024-25. Tranche three, which commenced in 2025-26, has delivered three Medicare UCCs in Victoria with a further 47 being established nationally. There are 90 Medicare UCCs open nationally (as of November 2025), 34 of which are located in regional, rural or remote areas.

Funding of $373.8 million over three years from 2025-26 will be provided to PHNs to support the program, with the objectives of:

improving access to urgent care in a non-hospital setting including the aim of changing consumer behaviour about options for appropriate care for urgent conditions that are not immediately life-threatening;
reducing the pressure on emergency department (ED) presentations in partner hospitals by providing patients with short term, episodic care for urgent conditions that are not immediately life-threatening; and
supporting integration with existing local health services and complement general practice.

Human rights implications

Table item 767 engages the following rights:

the right to health – Article 12 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2;
the rights of persons with disabilities - Article 5 of the CRPD, read with Article 4; and
the right to self–determination - Article 1 of the ICESCR and Article 1 of the ICCPR, read with Article 2.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The program will support the right to health and improving health outcomes in Australian communities by providing timely access to affordable and high-quality care for urgent conditions across extended hours of operation, reducing reliance on hospital EDs across the country. Medicare UCCs treat a wide range of conditions, including minor illnesses and injuries and adapt to the local needs of their local communities, supporting equitable access to affordable urgent care.

Rights of people with disability 

Article 5(3) provides that, ‘in order to promote equality and eliminate discrimination, States Parties shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided’.

The program supports persons with disabilities, particularly in relation to the rights to health and accessibility and inclusion. Medicare UCCs are required to ensure services are inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities (both physical and intellectual) of all ages, in accordance with relevant standards (for example, the RACGP’s ‘Standards for general practices’). This includes ensuring clinics are wheelchair accessible, bathrooms have mobility access and communication resources are tailored for people with disabilities.

Right to self-determination

The program will support individuals to freely make informed choices about their health care. Patients can choose to attend a Medicare UCC without an appointment or a referral, empowering them to seek free urgent care when and where they need it. In addition, Medicare UCCs are required to provide culturally safe health services for priority populations including First Nations communities and for those from culturally and linguistically diverse and non-English speaking backgrounds.

Table item 767 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 768 – Palliative Care Capability in Aged Care

New table item 768 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Palliative Care Capability in Aged Care program (the program).

Since 2017-18, the program has been delivered as ‘End of Life Directions for Aged Care’ (ELDAC) by a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) led consortium

Funding of $24.9 million in 2025-26 (and $24.9 million per year ongoing) will support the delivery of specialist palliative care and advance care planning advice and training, using innovative models, for aged care providers and GPs providing health care for recipients of aged care services. The program funding objectives are to support and align with government priorities focussing on: 

providing palliative care, end of life care and advance care planning advice to general practitioners and aged care providers caring for recipients of aged care services;
enhancing the quality and support of palliative care services for recipients of aged care services including improving the palliative care skills and advance care planning expertise of aged care service staff and GPs; and
improving linkages and coordination of care between palliative care services and aged care services to recipients of aged care services.

The intended outcomes of the program are to enable: 

GPs and aged care providers to be empowered with knowledge of palliative care and advance care planning relevant to their situation;
enhanced links between aged, primary and palliative care services, to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, expertise and support; and
advice and support provided to GPs and aged care providers regarding palliative care and advance care planning, including advance care directive resources, processes, legislation and accountabilities relevant to their state or territory.

Human rights implications

Table item 768 engages the following rights:

the right to health - Article 12 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2; and
the right to self–determination - Article 1 of the ICESCR and Article 1 of the ICCPR, read with Article 2.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The program will support the right to health by:

promoting access to quality palliative care by providing evidence-based resources, toolkits, and training to aged care providers and GPs to improve the quality of palliative and end-of-life care - this ensures that older people receive care that is dignified, person-centred, and responsive to their needs, which is a core aspect of the right to health;
supporting Advance Care Planning (ACP), empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their future health care, including the right to refuse treatment - this respects autonomy and ensures that care aligns with the person’s values and preferences;
reducing inequities in care by improving linkages between aged care, primary care, and specialist palliative care services, especially in under-resourced or rural areas - this supports equitable access to essential health services, a key component of the right to health; and
building the capacity of the aged care workforce through education and collaboration which strengthens the system’s ability to deliver sustainable, high-quality palliative care.

Right to self-determination

The program supports the right to self-determination in aged care through activities that align with person-centred care principles and the evolving legislative framework in Australia through:

providing comprehensive resources and guidance to ACP, which is a cornerstone of self-determination - ACP enables older people to express their values, preferences, and goals for future care, including end-of-life decisions which ensures that care aligns with their wishes even if they lose decision-making capacity later;
promoting holistic, person-centred care, which inherently respects the autonomy and individuality of older people and encourages aged care providers to assess and respond to each person's unique needs, preferences, and cultural background;
supporting decision-making – under the program (and which aligns with the Aged Care Act 2024), older people are presumed to have the ability to make decisions, and if they people need help, can choose a registered supporter (a trusted person who assists them in making and communicating decisions without taking over their autonomy). This legal framework reinforces the right to self-determination and is supported by the program’s activities (e.g. educational and practical resources); and
investing in workforce education and sector development including training in communication, ethical decision-making, and respecting residents' rights, to build capacity among aged care staff and GPs to support self-determination.

Table item 768 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 769 – Peer Workforce Training Placements

Funding of $2.8 million over four years from 2025-26 for the program will support 500 lived experience (peer) worker training placements. Peer workers are people with a lived experience of mental health challenges and/or suicidality (or carers of people with mental health challenges and/or suicidality) who provide emotional and social support to others with a common experience, through a range of mediums (such as phone calls, face-to-face sessions and participating in multidisciplinary teams). The type of support, and the role of peer workers, may vary according to the setting in which they are working. The scope and breadth of peer worker roles may include providing care to individuals presenting to a mental health and/or suicide prevention service, as well as organisational leadership roles such as supervisory and/or executive governance positions which facilitate the provision of peer worker services by an organisation and its staff.  

The objectives of the program are to:

support not-for profit organisations (NFPs) to facilitate work placements for peer workforce trainees undertaking the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, available through TAFEs and private providers;
support supervision costs and organisational readiness to support peer workers in the NFPs; and
build capacity within the mental health and suicide prevention peer workforce, including for First Nations peer workers and youth peer workers.

The intended outcomes of the program are to support the implementation of best practice in training and supervising peer workers and their integration into multidisciplinary teams, strengthen national training pathways with multiple entry points including for youth peer workers and First Nations peer workers and support the development of a recognised, professional and sustainable mental health workforce, beyond the traditional clinical professions, to assist with meeting demand.

Human rights implications

Table item 769 engages the following rights:

the right to health - Article 12 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2;
the right to work - Article 6 of the ICESCR and Articles 1 to 4 of the
ILO Convention 142;
the right to education - Article 13 of the ICESCR; and
the right to self–determination - Article 1 of the ICESCR and Article 1 of the ICCPR, read with Article 2.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The program will contribute to an individual’s right to health as it is a critical step to strengthening the mental health and suicide prevention peer workforce. By strengthening the peer workforce, the program will contribute to improving individuals’ access to the mental health and suicide prevention services this workforce provides. This includes culturally safe First Nations-specific services while relieving pressure on existing mental health services (such as psychology services delivered under the Better Access Initiative).

Right to work

The program will contribute to the right to work for mental health and suicide prevention peer workers by upskilling and growing the broader mental health and suicide prevention workforce and enhancing workplace culture to support peer workers.

Right to education

Article 13(2)(b) of the ICESCR relates to the general availability and accessibility of secondary education in its different forms to all. 

The program supports the right to education as individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or suicidality will be supported to obtaining minimal workplace training for a professional qualification.

Right to self-determination

The program supports the right to self–determination as individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or suicidality are encouraged to undertake workplace minimum requirements for a professional qualification.

Table item 769 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Table item 770 – Psychiatry Workforce Program

New table item 770 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Psychiatry Workforce Program (the PWP) to fund training posts in psychiatry and associated supervisory support.

The PWP aims to address the ongoing national psychiatry shortages by funding training posts and associated supervisory support. The RANZCP has delivered the PWP since its inception in 2022. 

The objective of the PWP is to improve access to high quality mental health care for all Australians, with a focus on those living in rural and remote areas, and aims to: 

attract, upskill, distribute and retain key mental health professionals to address mental health workforce shortages and maldistribution; and
increase access to psychiatric care by increasing the number of psychiatric training places including in rural and remote areas across Australia.

Funding of $30.1 million over four years from 2025-26 will be provided to the RANZCP to support:

the continuation of 30 existing PWP psychiatry training posts and associated supervisory support;
10 new psychiatry training posts and associated supervisory support in Medicare Mental Health Centres (MMHCs); and
the establishment and accreditation of health setting agreements with MMHCs for the training posts to commence on 1 July 2026.

The intended outcomes of the PWP are to increase the psychiatry workforce, particularly in rural and remote areas across Australia, improve access to high quality mental health care for all Australians, and increase the number of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander psychiatry trainees. 

Human rights implications

Table item 770 engages the following rights:

the right to work - Article 6 of the ICESCR, read with Article 2, and Articles 1 to 4 of the ILO Convention 142; 
the right to health – Article 12 of the ICESCR; 
the right to education - Article 13 of the ICESCR; and 
the right to self determination – Article 1 of the ICESCR and Article 1 of the ICCPR, read with Article 2.

Right to work

The PWP activities represent comprehensive, coordinated national policies that link vocational training directly with employment, particularly in the health sector. The activities are tailored to Australia’s economic and social context and support the development of human resources by enabling doctors to pursue meaningful, skilled employment in general practice. The PWP offers flexible, lifelong learning pathways through formal and non-formal education systems and provides registrars with access to vocational guidance, supervision, and structured training that includes information on employment opportunities, working conditions, and career progression.

Right to health

Article 12(1) of the ICESCR recognises the ‘right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health’.

The PWP activities are directed towards meeting demand for psychiatry services. This in turn benefits Australian communities as the PWP aims to produce skilled and qualified psychiatrists to treat mental health conditions.  

Right to education

Article 13(2)(b) of the ICESCR relates to the general availability and accessibility of secondary education in its different forms to all. 

The PWP aims to increase the number of training posts available to trainees for which they can complete their psychiatry fellowship, reducing training bottlenecks and increasing trainee placements, resulting in improved access to education.

Right to self-determination

The PWP promotes equitable access to vocational education, fair employment conditions, and improved social and economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander registrars. Targeted supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants and culturally safe training environments, aim to reduce barriers to participation in the medical workforce.

Table item 770 is compatible with human rights because it promotes the protection of human rights.

Conclusion

This disallowable legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it promotes the protection of human rights.

Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher

Minister for Finance

Administered by Department of Finance

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